Today was one of the suckiest days in the whole history of my working life.
In the morning, while we were washing the fermentation tank, Ruzaini accidentally poured fermentation media onto my jeans and shoes. I had to walk around with a stench like vomit. =.= Thank god Ruth was kind enough to lend me her skirt and
The heart attack came in the afternoon. Or rather, Heart attacks. We prepared a fresh batch of media for fermentation. When we wanted to sterilize it, we realized we forgot to add in a certain component. Hence, we switched off the sterilization mode to cooling mode and switched on the cool water valve from the chiller to induce chilling (sterilization involve heating).
Unfortunately, we did not switch open the drainage valve, causing the water to route back to the chiller. In other words, MAYHEM!
The increase in water pressure caused the water to erupt from the chiller via the pressure bulb (which is like a plastic water bottle on top of the chiller) like Mt Vesuvius on a high.
And it’s not cold water, it’s HOT water! I can still remember all of us pressing the panic button. AHHH!!!! /\ToT|\
“It’s hot! It’s hot! Not cold water! It’s hot water!” Ruzaini was screaming away.
“It’s a chiller! It’s supposed to be spewing cold water, not hot water! What the hell? What do we do?? What do we do?!” Zhen Jie was looking at me in desperation.
“What the hell are you guys looking at me for? I have no idea! It’s not supposed to be spewing out water in the first place!” I was wringing my hands and look ready to murder someone if it could solve the problem. Already, I can feel my heart failing with the stress.
All 3 of us ran around the lab like headless chickens, tearing the hair from our skulls and screaming like rabid monkeys… Ok, that’s an exaggeration. Onwards with the truth…
Since I was the Technical Support Officer (TSO), I was the ringleader, so to speak. I HAVE to know what to do, even if I really don’t. I traced the water pipes to the drainage valve and open it, praying that it will solve our problem and stop the “Wa-lcano” eruption. After all, for the water to enter, there should be an exit, right? Where better than the drainage valve?
It did. The “Wa-lcano” eruption stopped. Hallelujah! T~T
You guys have no idea the relief I felt at that time. Or rather, the relief the 3 of us felt if I can go by the sighs from the other 2.
Now, the next problems: the water on the floor and the pressure bulb with the blown –out hole. Oh boy… How am I going to explain this to Mr L?
First thing first, we mopped up the water on the floor. That’s when we got our 2nd heart attack: Dr X came into the lab.
“What’s going on here?” he walked into the lab gingerly, holding his pants up with one hand. All 3 of us froze, deathly white in shock. Dr X is famous for chewing out people. For more info, see my prev blog entries on 21st May 2008.
Thankfully, I was behind the fermentor mopping up the water and I stayed there, leaving
Ruzaini to deal with Dr X. Ruzaini mumbled some answer that I can’t hear. Haiz, I can’t let him die alone. One for all and All for one.
“We made a mistake. We forgot to turn open the drainage valve. Can we do the fermentation tomorrow instead?” I said in a dejected tone, looking exhausted and sad, hoping that it will be enough to convince him. Hopefully, we can get out of this without a scolding. Zhen Jie and Ruzaini immediately copied me, looking like lost puppies that have been abused. Smart kids!!
Dr X didn’t look happy but he relented. He even said it’s OK to make mistakes, just learn from it and he left soon after. Thank god. Now what’s left is to break the news to Mr L.
That’s when the 3rd heart attack came: Mr L called my cell phone. Shit!
I looked to the other 2 for help. They immediately picked up the mops and start mopping. Traitors!
“Hello, Mr L?”
“Eh, HP. You guys doing the fermentation now ah?” oh boy…
Gulping, I answered. “Erm… Mr L… I have something serious to tell you.”
“har? What thing?”
I promptly lost my courage and asked/yelled the other 2, “eh… You guys talk to him lah. I do the mopping.”
“You the TSO! You talk lah!”
>.<
“Erm. Mr L, we made a mistake…”
“You all never switch on the drainage valve, right?”
“Yeah, we did not... How do you know?!”
“I heard you yelling about mopping the floor. Next time dun wan me hear then cover the mouth piece lah. Anyway, nothing big lah. Just on the drainage valve, and mop up the water can liao. The water drainage system in our lab not very good. You never mop up then downstairs will kena.”
“Orh.. Ok Ok… Ok Ok… but sir, erm, the pressure bulb on the chiller has a hole” Incoming atomic bomb blast…
“hole? Oh, that one ah? That one is Jiu Fu make one. Nothing much de. Just fill with water as per normal” Wait, what? So it’s not our fault?
“Oh…ok…”
“Ok ah? Then bye bye.” Click…
Phew… Anyway, it was about 5.30 pm when we finally finished the mopping and collapsed onto the chairs. Mr L came in to check on us.
“finish everything le ah?.” He enquired. All 3 of us gave tired nods and he tried to suppress a smirk. Keyword: TRIED.
“Wah lao, Mr L. We just kena heart attacks… Now u smiling away.” I complained.
“ya lor…” and “ ‘cher! You sadist sia…” from Zhen Jie and Ruzaini.
Mr L, trying to look innocent but failing horribly, looked around at the damp floor and said, “Wah, flood like only half the lab. I remember Jiu Fu they all flooding the entire lab and beyond.”
It was a small bit of comfort to know that they, being the pros, can cause a flood worse than us. Looks like we’re not that bad, eh?
“You lucky Dr X never come and see. I remember he scolded Jiu Fu & Jian Lei until like dunno what.”
“No leh, He came and saw and allowed to postpone the fermentation till tomorrow.”
Ruzaini answered.
Mr L looked shocked. “Heh? He allow?! Wah, I remember he scold Jiu Fu & Jian Lei. He blow the matter up very big.”
“Big?” I asked.
“Ya lah, Big enough until even I heard it. Anyway, you guys just keep it on. Don’t worry about making mistakes, unless you guys blow up the bioreactors. Then you guys on your own. Ok? Now go back and rest and 压惊.”
Without a word, we trooped out after Mr L tiredly. What a series of unfortunate events… =.= I need alcohol to 压惊 or calm my nerves…
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